Hepatocellular carcinoma in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease mimicking benign hemangioma: two case reports and literature review

Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015 Nov 1;8(11):15350-5. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Objective: To study the clinical features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The clinical manifestations, imaging features, pathological subtypes and treatment outcome of two cases with NAFLD-associated HCC were analyzed.

Results: In these two cases, both were young, obese male patients, with contrast enhanced CT scan of hemangioma-like features. They had undergone surgical resection and both were reported as well-differentiated HCC pathologically. They were followed-up respectively up to 46 and 36 months post-operatively with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis.

Conclusions: NAFLD-associated HCC has different radiological presentations from typical HCC. Incidental finding of any liver occupying lesions in NAFLD patients should raise immediate clinical attention.

Keywords: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / chemistry
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / surgery
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Hemangioma / pathology*
  • Hepatectomy
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / surgery
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor